Self-publishing has sort of a bad reputation. It’s often seen as “vanity publishing,” and there is sometimes an assumption that our books aren’t good enough for traditional publication. We spend an awful lot of time trying to prove that we are “real authors” despite the route we’ve chosen to take to publication.

But I’m not going to bore you with yet another dull comparison of all the pros and cons of self-publishing as compared to traditional publishing. It is what it is.

I want to talk about the Indie community. The circle of independent, self-published authors who are, for the most part, some of the most incredible and supportive people I have ever had the pleasure of getting to know. Oh, sure, there are more than a few loopy-loos and whackadoodles out there, but they are hugely outnumbered by the Good Guys.

One of those Good Guys is Mark Dawson. He’s a fabulous writer and a terrific role model who offers training, workshops and support to help his fellow indie authors learn to navigate the confusing world of publishing and marketing.

As if that weren’t enough, I recently learned that Mark has taken his kindness to the next level. I’m going to quote him here from his post on KBoards:

“Emma Johns is the wife of my son’s godfather and has been battling with breast cancer for five years. In the middle of her grueling treatment she found out that she was pregnant (the chemotherapy was supposed to make her infertile but, to her surprise, it didn’t).

And then, in December, she gave birth to her own little miracle: baby Phoenix.

(You really couldn’t make that up. It’s the nearest thing to a miracle I think I’ve ever seen).

Emma’s condition is worsening but there is some hope: a trial immunotherapy drug called Pembrolizumab has shown amazing results for women with incurable triple negative breast cancer (like her). But, due to her pregnancy, Emma missed out on being eligible for the only trial available for this drug. Her best option now is to pay for it privately for the eye-watering sum of 40,000 pounds.

I’ve written a short story in my John Milton and Beatrix Rose universe – called PHOENIX – and I will be giving all of the proceeds to her and her family.

The book is available for preorder right now at $2.99. Every sale makes a difference.”

This one hits home, folks. My mom died of breast cancer on Mother’s Day 1987. It’s been thirty years next week. Breast cancer is a real bastard who has taken too many mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives.

I don’t know Emma Johns or baby Phoenix. I’ve never met Mark Dawson face-to-face. But Phoenix shouldn’t have to grow up without his mommy, so I’ve already bought my copy of this book. I am reaching out to all of you who follow my blog, and I’m asking you to spend a measly $2.99 to help out; I’m asking you to share this post and get the word out there.

To pre-order your copy of Phoenixby Mark Dawson, follow this link to his Amazon page.